Clinton vows to use the Web to bring democracy closer to the people

July 8, 2000
Web posted at: 10:01 a.m. EDT (1433 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Harking back to the emergence of radio in the early 20th century, U.S. President Bill Clinton said Saturday in his weekly webcast that the federal government has a duty to use the expanding Internet to keep citizens informed.

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The president recalled that President Woodrow Wilson became the first chief executive 81 years ago this week to use the fledgling radio when he spoke to Franklin D. Roosevelt -- then a U.S. Navy assistant secretary in Washington -- on a return trip from Europe.

Fifteen years later, Roosevelt as president regularly used the radio to reach millions of Americans in their homes with his famous fireside chats.

The country stands at a similar technological crossroads today, Clinton said.

"We have barely begun to understand how information technology will change our lives, but those of us in government have a responsibility to use these new tools to expand the reach of democracy and give more people a chance to live their dreams," Clinton said. The president also spoke to the public by radio on Saturday.

The president also promoted the White House's revamped Web site, www.whitehouse.gov, which was unveiled Friday. The site, launched six years ago, has been updated with standard navigation tools and a keyword search feature.

Sitting at his desk in the Oval Office with a computer monitor behind him, Clinton marveled at how quickly online information resources have grown.

When he became president in 1992, Clinton said, there were 50 Web sites on the World Wide Web. Today, there are 17 million sites.

In the United States alone, almost 50 million households can go online today, he said.

Clinton also touted a project under way to create a single site -- firstgov.gov -- that will link all federal information online. Announced June 24, the effort is expected to be ready in about 90 days.

Clinton also called for the government to close "the digital divide" by making sure that computers are installed in every classroom and that teachers have adequate training to use the technology available to them.

"We must do more to ensure the benefits of the information revolution flow to every American," he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.